Relative Estimates of Fox Population Levels

The methods developed for estimating relative population levels in large areas are described and the results obtained from several counties in three states are given.

Abstract

The present study was initiated to collect data on fox populations in a large homogeneous area in the Southeastern States. This report describes the methods developed for estimating relative population levels in large areas and also gives the results obtained from several counties in three states. Although both gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and red foxes (Vulpes fulva) are present in most of the areas studied, this paper deals primarily with the gray fox, which is far more abundant in this region, and all references are to this species unless otherwise stated. The study was conducted from June 1952 to February 1957 with headquarters at Thomasville, Georgia. The large plantations of this section afforded ideal study areas for developing methods and providing data for the basic ecological studies. The area included in this discussion, however, extends far beyond the headquarters area to include 25 counties of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina.2 The wide distribution was purposely selected to provide data for comparisons over a large area and to insure coverage of a large number of population levels. Three of the counties studied lie north of the fall line separating the Coastal Plains and the Piedmont Plateau, and two border the fall line. The